Extension Natural Resources Wildlife Team

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Squirrels and Bird Feeders

Help, squirrels are getting more food at my bird-feeder than the birds are? I don’t want to feed squirrels, what can I do?

There is no good answer to this question. You are trying to attract
birds to your feeder, but inevitably the squirrels will come too. Some
people enjoy watching squirrels, while others consider them pests. There
are a few things you can try to keep them away from your feeders, but
after observing these creatures for a while, you will notice how
intelligent they are and how difficult it is to outsmart them.

Many
feeders on the market claim to be squirrel proof. You could try one of
these or add a baffle to your feeder. A baffle is a bowl- or
umbrella-shaped plastic or metal barrier placed on the pole on which the
feeder is mounted. The idea behind a baffle is that squirrels cannot
get past it, although they often do. Another option is to offer
squirrels dried ears of corn, peanuts, or cracked corn at a location
away from the feeders. This allows the squirrels to enjoy a free meal
while distracting them, it is hoped, from the more expensive sunflower
seed.